Abstract
In recent years the Human–Computer Interaction community has
witnessed a growing interest in the use of ‘design patterns’ and ‘pattern
languages’, a representation for design knowledge based on the work
of the architect Christopher Alexander. In this paper, we re-examine
Alexander’s work, highlighting his participatory approach to design,
his use of patterns in design generation and his ethical commitment to
designing life-enhancing artefacts. Based on this review, we report on
three studies exploring the use of pattern languages as tools to support a
participatory approach to interactive systems design. Our results suggest
that pattern languages can enable users to participate in a generative
design process but that issues of form and facilitation need careful
consideration.
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